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Shakopee lineman's wish for another sport? Check, please

By Star Tribune, 09/16/14, 6:56PM CDT

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Shakopee senior Mykal Riley is helping the school’s football program make the adjustment to life in the South Suburban Conference.


Shakopee senior tight end/defensive end Mykal Riley

Shakopee senior Mykal Riley is helping the school’s football program make the adjustment to life in the South Suburban Conference.

The Sabers are in their initial season in the 10-team conference. They previously played in the defunct Missota Conference.

Riley plays tight end/defensive end for the Sabers, who have lost their first three games of the 2014 season.

Here is a closer look at Riley, who also runs the hurdles for the boys’ track team in the spring:

 

Q: The best movie I’ve seen in the past year?

A: “Transformers: Age of Extinction.”

 

Q: Three words or phrases my friends or teammates might use to describe me?

A: Hardworking, silly and a little intense at moments.

 

Q: Three songs I never skip on my iPod are …

A: … “Leave The Night On” by Sam Hunt; “Dayum, Baby” by Florida Georgia Line; and “Small Town Throwdown” by Brantley Gilbert.

 

Q: Who do you like to follow on Twitter?

A: I don’t really know anyone on Twitter, but the person or group I like reading tweets on is Uberfacts. They post a lot of facts and statistics that are pretty interesting and sometimes weird.

 

Q: At my first varsity practice, I felt …

A: … very nervous but excited at the same time. I wanted to show all of the upperclassmen what I was capable of and what I could do to help out the team. I had my first varsity track practice in ninth grade and my first varsity football practice as a sophomore.

 

Q: What did you work on most in the offseason?

A: Becoming a stronger runner for the hurdles in track, and also my strength in general for the positions I play in football.

 

Q: To get focused for a game or meet, I …

A: … put my headphones in, turn up the volume a little so the world drowns out, and go through what I need to do to be successful. I do a little stretching and moving around during the down time to keep my body from getting stiff and locked up.

 

Q: What is your most memorable moment as a high school athlete?

A: Being named the varsity football captain, and stepping out onto the stadium field for the first time as a senior.

 

Q: How do you balance school and sports during the year?

A: I balance school and sports by getting my job done in the classroom, which means work hard, turn things in on time, pay attention and respect my teachers to the fullest. I balance my sports and school by the saying my coaches and parents have always said: “School always comes first.”

 

Q: Name one sport that you wish you could play, and why?

A: It would probably be hockey because it’s a fun and challenging sport. Plus, I like that you can also check people.

 

Q: Who is your favorite college or pro sports team?

A: I don’t really have a favorite sports team, but I do enjoy watching the Army-Navy football games. I love that the military is also involved in sports, and that soldiers and sailors can play the amazing game of football while serving.

 

Q: In 10 years, I hope I’m …

A: … in a career that I enjoy and can be happy with. I also hope that I have surrounded myself with a great group of friends. I also want to have a cabin on a lake with a great sunset view.

RON HAGGSTROM

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